Ultrasonic Transducer, Ultrasonic Transducer Array and Ultrasound Endoscope Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ultrasonic transducer arraying at even intervals ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and layering a plurality of acoustic matching layers on them, comprising an transducer shape forming member made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE for filling a gap formed on the side face of the ultrasonic transducer with the same material as that of the acoustic matching layer, mixing a colorant in a division member adjacent to a predefined ultrasonic transducer from among a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and arraying the plurality thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic radial scanning typeultrasonic transducer.

BACKGROUND ART

In conventional medical practice there exists an ultrasonic diagnosisapparatus that repeatedly transmits an ultrasonic pulse into a live bodyfrom an ultrasonic transducer, then receives an echo of the ultrasonicpulse reflected from the live body by the same or separately equippedultrasonic transducer, and then gradually shifts the direction oftransmission and reception of the ultrasonic pulse, thereby displayinginformation collected from a plurality of directions within the livebody as a visible ultrasonic tomography image.

The ultrasonic transducers used for such an ultrasonic diagnosisapparatus or the like include an array type ultrasonic transduceremploying an electronic scanning system that arrays a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements regularly. This ultrasonic transducer includes aradial array type that arrays a plurality of piezoelectric elements in acylindrical arrangement, a convex array type that arrays them in roughlya partially cylindrical arrangement, and a linear array type that arraysthem in a plate arrangement.

The radial array type ultrasonic transducer has conventionally beenproduced by sequentially adhering, on a support member formed by aflexible thin plate which has a damper effect, for example, apiezoelectric plate, made of lead zirconate titanate for example, and anacoustic matching layer. This adhering is followed by forming cut-ingrooves, leaving the support member in the lower layer uncut, ofpredetermined pitches perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by acutting means for constituting an transducer array having a large numberof ultrasonic transducers, and by adhering the back surface of thesupport member structuring the transducer array onto the circumferenceof a damper member-cum-fix member (also called “backing member”) whosecross-section is circular (for an example, refer to patent document 1).

An ultrasonic wave probe has conventionally been produced by equippingboth surfaces of a piezoelectric element respectively with an acousticmatching layer and a backside load member made of a deformable materialand cut-in grooves are formed at predetermined intervals by a cuttingmeans, starting from the side of the acoustic matching layer down to apart of the backside load member. The backside load member is fixed withan adhesive onto the outer surface of a curvature member that is formedto a desired curvature (for an example, refer to patent document 2).

There is also another ultrasonic array transducer configured by puttinga backing member frame on the inside of an acoustic lens, mounting acable harness board on the inside of the backing member frame, andfilling the circumference thereof with the backing member (for anexample, refer to patent document 3).

Meanwhile, the electronic scanning type ultrasonic transducer isequipped on a part of an endoscope that is inserted into an abdomen, theuse of which makes it possible to extract a clear image of deep organssuch as digestive canal walls and the pancreas, gall bladder, etc., withgood image quality and without being ill influenced by abdominal gasesor bones. The electronic scanning type ultrasonic transducer isconstituted by no less than several tens of elements and a number ofcoaxial cables for transmission and reception equivalent to the numberof elements. When connecting an electrode of each element of theelectronic scanning type ultrasonic transducer to a signaltransmission/reception use coaxial cable, a common method is to solder acore lead of the coaxial cable to a signal electrode of each element andto solder a shield wire of the coaxial cable to a ground electrode ofeach element.

Electronic scanning type ultrasonic transducers such as that describedabove that have been utilized for an endoscope include convex types,linear types, and radial types, as noted above. The radial type is fortransmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam around a circumference andis categorized into two systems, a mechanical radial scanning systemtransmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam radially by rotating thetransducers and an electronic radial scanning system transmitting andreceiving an ultrasonic beam radially by arraying a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements on the circumference of a cylinder andelectronically controlling them (for an example, refer to patentdocument 4).

In the case of producing an electronic radial type ultrasonictransducer, a cylindrical shape must be produced in a manner in whichboth end surfaces of ultrasonic transducer plates that have been dividedinto a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (i.e., ultrasonic transducerelements) are aligned, as disclosed by patent document 4.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasound endoscopeapparatus.

The ultrasound endoscope apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 1 comprises aconnection part 1010, an operation part 1020, and an insertion part 1030that comprises a head part 1040.

The connection part 1010 is connected to a display apparatus comprising,for example, a display and/or other such device(s) for displaying imagesor other such things photographed by an ultra compact camera or othersuch device equipped on the head part 1040.

The operation part 1020 performs curving operations of the insertionpart 1030 in the left, right, up and down directions via operation by auser, for example.

The head part 1040 is equipped with a radial system ultrasonictransducer array constituted by, in addition to the ultra compactcamera, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers being lined upcontinuously in a circular pattern around the insertion axis as thecenter; a selected ultrasonic transducer from among the pluralitythereof of the radial system ultrasonic transducer array transmits orreceives an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave received by theultrasonic transducer array is converted into an electric signal forbeing displayed on the display or other such device as an image.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of the dotted line frame H shown in FIG.1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the head part 1040 comprises a camera part 1110equipped with an ultra compact camera, illumination element, et cetera,and an ultrasonic wave part 1111 to be equipped with the radial systemultrasonic transducer array and/or other such device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying an ultrasonic transducer array.

The ultrasonic transducer array 1120 shown in FIG. 3 comprises apiezoelectric element 1121, a first acoustic matching layer 1122 and asecond acoustic matching layer 1123.

The piezoelectric element 1121, first acoustic matching layer 1122 andsecond acoustic matching layer 1123 are divided into a plurality thereofby commonly featured grooves, resulting in the constitution of theplurality of ultrasonic transducers. Note that the groove featuredcommonly for the piezoelectric element 1121, first acoustic matchinglayer 1122 and second acoustic matching layer 1123 is extended from theupper face of the piezoelectric element 1121 to a part of the secondacoustic matching layer 1123 so that the individual ultrasonictransducers are connected to one another by the second acoustic matchinglayer 1123 according to this comprisal as shown in FIG. 3.

The individual grooves are equipped with division members 1124 (i.e.,1124-1, 1124-2, 1124-3, 1124-4, 1124-5 and so on), respectively. Thedivision members 1124 are constituted by a resin or by particlesattenuating an ultrasonic wave, and are constructed by theaforementioned material filling in the grooves that are featuredcommonly for the piezoelectric element 1121, first acoustic matchinglayer 1122 and second acoustic matching layer 1123; this is followed bythe material being solidified (for an example, refer to patent document5).

As to the ultrasonic transducer array 1120, the end surfaces in thedirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonictransducer array 1120 are connected with one another from the stateshown in FIG. 3, thereby constructing the radial system ultrasonictransducer array.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a constructed radial system ultrasonictransducer array from the ultrasonic transducer array 1120 shown in FIG.3.

The inside of an opening part of the radial system ultrasonic transducerarray 1120 shown in FIG. 4 is equipped with a roughly donut-shaped framemember 1130 that retains the state of the individual ultrasonictransducers of the ultrasonic transducer array 1120 being formed in acircular pattern.

There already exists such a case in which the frame member 1130 is usedto retain the form of individual ultrasonic transducers of theultrasonic transducer array 1120 (for an example, refer to patentdocument 3).

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer is able to performscans in 360 degrees, and therefore the scan intervals are desirablyuniform across all directions.

In order to form the ultrasonic transducer arraying the ultrasonictransducer elements on a plane into a circular shape as described above,however, a side face on one end must be matched with that on the otherend in order to roll up the flat-formed ultrasonic transducer into acylindrical shape, resulting in the creation of a joint part for theelectronic radial type ultrasonic transducer.

As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional electronic radial type ultrasonictransducer ends up with a different interval between the adjacentultrasonic transducer elements in the place at which the ends are joined(joint 2010) in an ultrasonic transducer plate 2000 that is rolled upinto a cylindrical shape, and this causes an ill influence on imagesobtained from the ultrasonic transducer elements encompassing the joint2010.

Such a joint is unique to electronic radial type transducers and is notseen in the convex type or linear type transducers; therefore specialcare has conventionally been required in the handling of regionscorresponding to the joint when photographing the interior of an abdomenwith an ultrasound endoscope that uses an electronic radial typeultrasonic transducer.

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer used for an ultrasoundendoscope is now being configured to have the outer diameter of thetransducer be around 10 mm so that a variation of a few tens ofmicrometers alters the angle and interval of the adjacent transducer.This causes a significant ill influence on image quality when comparedto large scale ultrasonic transducers such as sonar in which adisplacement of a few tens of micrometers at a joint is not significant.

A backing member usually uses a soft resin for retaining a dampingeffect. However, if the joint is adhered with the backing member,durability is undermined when performing sterilization treatment viachemicals or heating. As such, connection of a joint with the backingmember material results in varying characteristics and leads to reduceddurability due to the use of a flexible material.

Also, in either of the radial system ultrasonic transducer arrays 1120shown in FIG. 4, the convex system ultrasonic transducer array or thelinear system ultrasonic transducer array, a predefined ultrasonictransducer needs to be identified when producing, inspecting orrepairing the ultrasonic transducer array.

For the convex system ultrasonic transducer array and the linear systemultrasonic transducer array, a predefined ultrasonic transducer can beidentified by registering information on a function of the nthultrasonic transducer from the one at an end in advance and counting theultrasonic transducers in sequence from the one at the end.

In an ultrasonic transducer array symmetrically formed for obtaining agood acoustic characteristics such as the radial system ultrasonictransducer array 1120 shown in FIG. 4, the individual ultrasonictransducers are formed into a circular pattern by mutually connectingthe ultrasonic transducers at both ends, making it difficult to identifyultrasonic transducers at the ends; this results in a difficulty inidentifying a specific ultrasonic transducer.

Also, in the convex system ultrasonic transducer array and linear systemultrasonic transducer array, if an ultrasonic transducer array used foran ultrasound endoscope apparatus is very small, it is difficult tocount the ultrasonic transducers and hence difficult to identify apredefined ultrasonic transducer.

Also, the ultrasonic transducer formed by fixing a flexible supportmember to a damper member with an adhesive, such as the ultrasonic probenoted in patent document 1, has been faced with the possibility ofoccurrences of performance problems such as an elongated pulse widthcaused by the adhesive layer being placed in between the support memberand the damper member.

Also, in the production method for the ultrasonic wave probe noted inpatent document 2, a flexible or deformable elastic member is curved andis fixed to a damper member or curved member with an adhesive, therebyforming a prescribed feature. Because of this, there is a possibilitythat a residual stress in the elastic member will cause a brokenelectrical connection or other such failure.

Furthermore, when fixing a soft member with an adhesive, the thicknessof the adhesive layer varies and the form of the member cannot bemaintained at a high accuracy; this is different from the case ofadhering hard members to each other, and therefore it has been difficultto obtain the desired accuracy of the form.

Requirements for the backing member frame include high form accuracy,insulation, the capability of adding a conductor pattern and thermalresistance against heat from soldering in cases in which there is aconnection to a lead wire, and other properties. However, common boardmaterials such as glass epoxy board used for the usage described abovehave been faced with difficulties in improving the accuracy of themachining process because of minute changes in form as a result of theglass fiber coming off the resin at an edge part that is being processedfor a feature.

In addition, polyimide has a low rigidity and a low adhesive property,and is thus faced with the problem of being unsuitable for use for aframe.

In consideration of the above described problems, a purpose of thepresent invention is to provide an electronic radial type ultrasonictransducer that makes all of the environment uniform in relation to amaterial and in relation to the interval between ultrasonic transducerelements.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonictransducer array that enables the easy identification of a predefinedultrasonic transducer no matter what system it is categorized as.

Yet another purpose of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonictransducer with a high reliability and strength that is capable ofobtaining a good ultrasonic image by preventing occurrences of failurethat are due to residual stress and by the highly accurate arraying ofdivided piezoelectric elements via the use of polyphenylether (PPE) as aframe material. PPE has the characteristics of high thermal resistance,good processability, and good retainability of external features.

Patent document 1: Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application Publication No.H02-271839

Patent document 2: Japanese Registered Patent No. 2502685

Patent document 3: Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2002-224104

Patent document 4: Japanese Registered Patent No. Sho 63-14623

Patent document 5: Laid-Open Japanese Patent Application Publication No.H10-285695

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In order to solve the problem described above, the present inventionadopts the following comprisal.

An electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer according to the presentinvention is an array, at even intervals and in a cylindricalarrangement, of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements thattransmit and receive ultrasonic waves. The electronic radial typeultrasonic transducer according to the present invention also islaminated by a plurality of acoustic matching layers, wherein a gapformed on the side face of the ultrasonic transducer element is filledwith the same material as that of the acoustic matching layer in theoutermost layer.

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer may also be configuredin such a manner that the gap is approximately the same width as thespace between the ultrasonic transducer elements.

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer may also be configuredin such a manner that a member constituted by the same material as thatof the acoustic matching layer in the outermost layer is installed inthe gap.

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer may also be configuredin such a manner that the gap is filled with the member together with anadhesive constituted by the same material as that of the acousticmatching layer in the outermost layer.

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer may also be configuredin such a manner that the member is installed in a gap part sandwichedby a pair of parts other than the gap between elements transmitting andreceiving the ultrasonic wave out of the ultrasonic transducer elements.

An electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer according to the presentinvention is also one that arrays a plurality of ultrasonic transducerelements, which transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, at even intervalsin a cylindrical arrangement and that layers a plurality of acousticmatching layers, wherein a gap formed on the side face of the ultrasonictransducer element is approximately the same length as that of the spacebetween the ultrasonic transducer elements.

A production process of an electronic radial type ultrasonic transduceraccording to the present invention comprises: a body structureproduction process for producing a body structure that arrays aplurality of ultrasonic transducer elements which transmits and receivesultrasonic waves, and layers a plurality of acoustic matching layers; acylinder forming process for forming the body structure into acylindrical shape by bringing first and a second side faces of the bodystructure face to face with each other; a member insertion process forinserting a member constituted by the same material as that of theacoustic matching layer in the outermost layer into a gap between thefirst and second side faces of the cylindrically shaped body structure;a circular member installation process for installing a circular memberon the inside of an opening part of the cylindrically shaped bodystructure; a cable harnessing process for leading a plurality of cablesthrough a roughly cylindrical shaped insulation member provided with aflange on one end and connecting one end of each of the cablesrespectively to a plurality of electrode pads that are equipped on theflange surface of the insulative member; an insulative member insertionprocess for inserting the insulative member into the body structureuntil the flange of the insulative member obtained by the cableharnessing process comes into contact with the circular member of thestructure member obtained by the circular member installation process;and a connection process for connecting, with wire, the electrode padequipped on the flange surface of the insulative member (this electrodepad is inserted in the insulative member insertion process) to theelectrodes of the ultrasonic transducer elements.

The scope of the present invention encompasses an ultrasound endoscopecomprising the above-noted electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer.

An ultrasonic transducer array according to the present invention is onecomprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers featuring a pluralityof grooves on a plate-formed piezoelectric element, wherein ultrasonicwaves are transmitted or received by an ultrasonic transducer selectedfrom the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the plurality ofgrooves are respectively equipped with division members and the color ofa division member adjacent to a predetermined ultrasonic transducer fromamong the individual division members is different from that of theother division members.

An ultrasonic transducer array according to the present invention isalso one comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers featuring aplurality of grooves in a plate-formed piezoelectric element and a framemember in contact with all of the plurality of ultrasonic transducersand retaining the form thereof, wherein an ultrasonic wave istransmitted or received by an ultrasonic transducer selected from theplurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the plurality of groovesare respectively equipped with division members and the color of adivision member adjacent to a predetermined ultrasonic transducers fromamong the individual division members is different from that of theother division members, and a mark for indicating the position of thepredefined ultrasonic transducer is attached to the frame member closethereto.

The ultrasonic transducer array may also be configured in such a mannerthat the color of a division member adjacent to the predefinedultrasonic transducer from among the individual division members isdifferent from that of the other division members as a result of thedivision member mixed with a colorant being hardened after it is filledin the groove adjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer, or ofthe division member, from which the colorant is removed, being hardenedafter it is filled in the groove adjacent to the predefined ultrasonictransducer.

The ultrasonic transducer array may also be configured in such a mannerthat the color of a division member adjacent to the predefinedultrasonic transducer from among the individual division members isdifferent from that of the other division members as a result of aplate-shaped division member having a different color from that of theother division members being inserted into the groove adjacent to thepredefined ultrasonic transducer.

The division member of the ultrasonic transducer array may also beconfigured to be colored differently in different parts.

An ultrasonic transducer array according to the present invention is onecomprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers featuring a pluralityof grooves of a plate-shaped piezoelectric element and a frame member incontact with all of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers andretaining the shape thereof, wherein ultrasonic waves are transmitted orreceived by an ultrasonic transducer selected from among the pluralityof ultrasonic transducers, wherein a mark for indicating the position ofthe predefined ultrasonic transducer is attached to the frame memberclose thereto.

The predefined ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic transducer arraymay also be configured to be constituted by a plurality of ultrasonictransducers having the same characteristic or function.

An ultrasonic transducer array according to the present invention is onecomprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers featuring a pluralityof grooves in a plate-shaped piezoelectric element, wherein ultrasonicwaves are transmitted or received by an ultrasonic transducer selectedfrom among the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein theplurality of ultrasonic transducers is formed into a circulararrangement by two ultrasonic transducers from among the plurality ofultrasonic transducers being connected together by a connection member,the color of which being different from that of division membersrespectively installed in the plurality of grooves.

An ultrasound endoscope apparatus according to the present invention isequipped with an ultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality ofultrasonic transducers featuring a plurality of grooves in aplate-shaped piezoelectric element, wherein an ultrasonic wave istransmitted or received by an ultrasonic transducer selected from amongthe plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the plurality ofgrooves are respectively equipped with division members and the color ofa division member adjacent to a predetermined ultrasonic transducer fromamong the individual division members is different from that of theother division members.

An ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention comprises:an acoustic matching layer including a hard layer; a piezoelectric bodythat is shorter than the acoustic matching layer in length, is placedfixedly at a predetermined position in the hard layer and is dividedinto a plurality of piezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with thepiezoelectric body being placed fixedly; and an transducer shape formingmember made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting polyphenylether (PPE)that is placed fixedly, with a surface of the divided piezoelectricelement being placed on the internal circumference side, on a surface ofthe acoustic matching layer on which the piezoelectric elements areplaced, with the surface of the acoustic matching layer projecting fromthe piezoelectric element, thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectricelements in a predefined form.

Also, an ultrasonic transducer according to the present inventioncomprises: an acoustic matching layer including a hard layer; apiezoelectric body that is shorter than the acoustic matching layer inlength, that is placed fixedly at a predetermined position of the hardlayer, and that is divided into a plurality of piezoelectric elements bya cutting means, with the piezoelectric elements being placed fixedly;an transducer shape forming member made of a hard material that isplaced fixedly, with a surface of the divided piezoelectric elementsbeing placed on the internal circumference side, on a surface of theacoustic matching layer on which the piezoelectric elements arearranged, with the acoustic matching layer projecting from thepiezoelectric element, thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectricelements in a predefined form; and an insulative member that is placedon the outside of the transducer shape forming member and is made of afiber reinforced thermosetting PPE for electrically insulating aconductive member from the outside.

Also, an ultrasonic transducer according to the present inventioncomprises: an acoustic matching layer formed by layering at least a hardfirst acoustic matching layer and a soft second acoustic matching layer;a piezoelectric body that is shorter than the acoustic matching layer inlength, is placed fixedly at a predetermined position of the firstacoustic matching layer, and is divided into a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with the piezoelectricelements being placed fixedly; and an transducer shape forming memberconstituted by a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE that is placedfixedly, with a surface of the divided piezoelectric element beingplaced on the internal circumference side, on a surface of the firstacoustic matching layer constituting the acoustic matching layer thatprojects from the piezoelectric element, thereby arraying a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements in a predefined form.

Also, an ultrasonic transducer according to the present inventioncomprises: an acoustic matching layer formed by layering at least a hardfirst acoustic matching layer and a soft second acoustic matching layer;a piezoelectric body that is shorter than the acoustic matching layer inlength, that is placed fixedly at a predetermined position of the firstacoustic matching layer, and that is divided into a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with the piezoelectricelements being placed fixedly; an transducer shape forming member of ahard material that is placed fixedly, with a surface of the dividedpiezoelectric element being placed on the internal circumference sidefixedly, on a surface of the first acoustic matching layer constitutingthe acoustic matching layer projecting from the piezoelectric element,thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectric elements in a predefinedform; and an insulative member that is placed on the outside of thetransducer shape forming member and is made of a fiber-reinforcedthermosetting PPE for electrically insulating a conductive member fromthe outside.

Also, the ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that the piezoelectric elementsare formed by providing division grooves at predefined intervals thatstart from the surface of a piezoelectric body placed fixedly on thefirst acoustic matching layer, and then pass the layer by the cuttingmeans to reach the second acoustic matching layer.

Also, the ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that the transducer shape formingmember is circular.

Also, the ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that the insulative member iscircular.

Also, the ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that the transducer shape formingmember is roughly a partial cylinder.

Also, the ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that the insulative member isroughly a partial cylinder.

Also, an ultrasonic transducer according to the present inventioncomprises: an acoustic matching layer including a hard layer; apiezoelectric body that is placed fixedly, in a positional relationshipthat a part of the acoustic matching layer projects from thepiezoelectric body, onto a predetermined position in a hard layerconstituting the acoustic matching layer, and that is provided withone-face-side electrode and an other-face-side electrode respectively oneach side of the flat parts divided into a plurality of piezoelectricelements by a cutting means, with the piezoelectric body being placedfixedly; and an transducer shape forming member constituted by afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE that is placed fixedly, with asurface of the piezoelectric element that is divisionally formed beingplaced on the internal circumference side, onto a surface of the firstacoustic matching layer constituting the acoustic matching layerprojecting from the piezoelectric element, thereby arraying a pluralityof piezoelectric elements in a predefined arrangement. In thispredefined arrangement, a band-shaped conductive material of apredetermined width is equipped at a predetermined position on an endside of the acoustic matching layer, in parallel with the piezoelectricbody and facing an electrode featured on a flat part of thepiezoelectric body, while the transducer shape forming member isequipped with a conductive part that is placed facing a conductivecomponent extensively placed from the piezoelectric body.

Also, an ultrasonic transducer according to the present inventioncomprises: an acoustic matching layer including a hard layer; apiezoelectric body that is placed fixedly, in a positional relationshipthat a part of the acoustic matching layer projects from thepiezoelectric body, onto a predetermined position of a hard layerconstituting the acoustic matching layer, and that providesone-face-side electrode and an other-face-side electrode respectively oneach side of the flat parts divided into a plurality of piezoelectricelements by a cutting means with the piezoelectric elements being placedfixedly; an transducer shape forming member made of a hard material thatis placed fixedly, with a surface of the piezoelectric element, which isdivisionally formed, being placed on an internal circumference sidefixedly, onto a surface on which the piezoelectric element of theacoustic matching layer projects from the piezoelectric element, therebyarraying a plurality of piezoelectric elements in a predefinedarrangement; and an insulative member that is placed on the outside ofthe transducer shape forming member and that is made of afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE for electrically insulating aconductive member from the outside, wherein

a band-shaped conductive component of a predetermined width is equippedat a predetermined position on an end side of the acoustic matchinglayer, in parallel with the piezoelectric body and facing an electrodefeatured on a flat part of the piezoelectric body, while the transducershape forming member is equipped with a conductive part facing aconductive component extensively placed from the piezoelectric body.

The ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that electrical conduction of atleast one of the following two places is carried out; conduction in onepossible place is carried out by contacting an electrode equipped on aflat part of the piezoelectric body to a band-shaped conductivecomponent equipped on the acoustic matching layer, while conduction inanother possible place is carried out by contacting the conductivecomponent to a conductive part of the transducer shape forming member.

The ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that electrical conduction of atleast one of the following two places is carried out by way of aconductive member; conduction in one possible place is carried out bycontacting an electrode equipped on a flat part of the piezoelectricbody to a band-shaped conductive component equipped on the acousticmatching layer, while conduction in another possible place is carriedout by contacting a conductive component to a conductive part of thetransducer shape forming member.

The ultrasonic transducer according to the present invention ispreferably configured in such a manner that the conductive member iseither a metallic grazing member, a conductive adhesive, conductivepainting or a conductive film.

The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer according to thepresent invention is also preferably configured in such a manner thatthe width of the member is smaller than the space between the ultrasonictransducer elements.

The production process of an electronic radial type ultrasonictransducer according to the present invention is also such that themember insertion process coats, on a surface of the member, an adhesiveconstituted of the same material as that of the acoustic matching layerin the outermost layer, and then inserts the member into the gap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasound endoscopeapparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of the dotted line frame H;

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying an ultrasonic transducer array;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer array;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a joint part of a common electronic radialtype ultrasonic transducer;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an ultrasoundendoscope according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagram of a head part 3 of an ultrasoundendoscope shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 1);

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 2);

FIG. 10A is an enlarged diagram of a joint part 28 shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10B is an enlarged diagram of a joint part 28 shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of applying a spacer to ajoint part;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 3);

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 4);

FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 5);

FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 5);

FIG. 14C is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 5);

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 6);

FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 7);

FIG. 16B is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 7);

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 8);

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a convex system ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a linear system ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a diagonal view diagram of an ultrasonic transducer;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional diagram in the longitudinal directiondescribing a comprisal of an ultrasonic transducer;

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional diagram of the section A-A shown in FIG.29;

FIG. 31 is an enlarged diagram of the part indicated by arrow B in FIG.29;

FIG. 32 is a diagram describing another configuration example of thepart indicated by arrow B in FIG. 29;

FIG. 33 is a diagram describing another configuration example of thepart indicated by arrow B in FIG. 29;

FIG. 34 is an enlarged diagram of the part indicated by arrow C in FIG.29;

FIG. 35 is a diagram describing members for forming an acoustic matchinglayer;

FIG. 36 is a diagram describing an acoustic matching layer;

FIG. 37 is a diagram describing members for forming a first layer body;

FIG. 38 is a diagram describing the first layer body;

FIG. 39 is a diagram describing members for forming a second layer body;

FIG. 40 is a diagram describing the second layer body;

FIG. 41 is a diagram describing a process for electrically connecting aface-side electrode of a piezoelectric ceramics to the conductionpattern of a board;

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an appearance of dividing piezoelectricceramics into piezoelectric elements by forming division grooves;

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a second layer body with a predeterminednumber of division grooves;

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the deformation of a second layer body thathas a plurality of piezoelectric elements;

FIG. 45 is a diagram describing members used for forming a cylindricallyformed transducer unit;

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the placing of an transducer shape formingmember on a first acoustic matching layer;

FIG. 47 is a diagram showing the placing an transducer shape formingmember on a board;

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an transducer shape forming member and asecond layer body used for forming a convex array type transducer unit;

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an transducer shape forming member and asecond layer body used for forming a linear array type transducer unit;

FIG. 50 is a diagram describing a comprisal of a radial type ultrasonictransducer using an insulative member made of a fiber-reinforcedthermosetting PPE;

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a radial type ultrasonic transducer usingan insulative member made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE;

FIG. 52 is a diagram describing a comprisal of a convex type ultrasonictransducer using an insulative member made of a fiber-reinforcedthermosetting PPE; and

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing a convex type ultrasonic transducer usingan insulative member made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an ultrasoundendoscope according to the present embodiment. The ultrasound endoscope1 comprises an operation part 6 on the base end of a slender insertionpart 2. A universal cord 7 to be connected to a light source apparatus(not shown herein) extends from the side part of the operation part 6.

The insertion part 2 comprises the connection of, in sequence startingat the head part, a head part 3, a bendable part 4 allowing theinsertion part to bend freely, and a flexible tube part 5 havingflexibility. The operation part 6 is equipped with a bending operationknob 6 a so that the bendable part 4 can be bent by operating thebending operation knob 6 a.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagram of the head part 3 of the ultrasoundendoscope 1 shown in FIG. 6. The head part 3 is equipped with anultrasonic transducer 10 (or an ultrasonic transducer array) enablingelectronic radial type scanning, and an inclined part 12 is formedbetween the bendable part 4 and the ultrasonic transducer 10. Theultrasonic transducer 10 is covered with a material, forming an acousticlens 11. The inclined part 12 is equipped with an illumination lenscover (not shown herein) constituting an illumination optical system foremitting an illuminating light to an observation region, anobservation-use lens cover 13 constituting an observation optical systemfor acquiring an optical image of an observation region and a forcepsexit hole 14 that is an opening for projecting a treatment instrument.

Next, a description is given of a production process of the ultrasonictransducer 10 according to the present embodiment by using FIGS. 8through 18.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a production process of an ultrasonictransducer (part 1). Referring to FIG. 8, in the first step theultrasonic transducer produces body structure A comprising a board 20, aconductive body 21, electrodes 22 (i.e., 22 a and 22 b), a piezoelectricelement 23, acoustic matching layers 24 (i.e., first and a secondmatching layers 24 a and 24 b, respectively), a conductive resin 25 andgrooves 26. To begin with, production of body structure A is described.

The second matching layer 24 b is produced first, followed by the firstmatching layer 24 a. Next, the grooves in the first matching layer 24 aare made using, for example, a dicing saw (i.e., a high precisionshearing machine), followed by the pouring of conductive resin 25 intothe grooves. Next, a piezoelectric element 23 that has the electrodes 22a and 22 b respectively on both of the opposite principal faces isjoined to the layers, then a board 20 is mounted adjacent to the side ofthe piezoelectric element 23. The surface of the board 20 has anelectrode layer 20 a. Next, the conductive body 21 for electricallyconnecting the electrode 22 a to the electrode layer 20 a is mounted.

Next, a plurality of grooves (i.e., diced grooves) 26 of several tens ofmicrometers in width are created using a dicing saw for cutting intobody structure A that is formed as described above. The width of each ofthese grooves is desirably between 20 and 50 micrometers. Note that thecutting of the body structure A leaves uncut several tens of micrometersof the thickness of the second matching layer 24 b. Approximately 200such grooves are cut. Here, the divided transducers are calledultrasonic transducer elements 27.

Note that the present embodiment as described above is of a two-layermatching type, and therefore the material for the first acousticmatching layer 24 a preferably uses an epoxy resin containing a fillersuch as alumina or titania (TiO₂), and the material of the secondacoustic matching layer 24 b is preferably an epoxy resin not containingany filler. In the case of a three-layer matching type, the material forthe first acoustic matching layer preferably uses machinable ceramics ora carbon or epoxy resin containing filler or fibers, that of the secondacoustic matching layer preferably uses an epoxy resin containing a verysmall amount (i.e., a lower rate of content as compared to the case oftwo-layer matching) of a filler such as alumina or titania, and that ofthe third acoustic matching layer preferably uses an epoxy resin notcontaining a filler.

Next, body structure A is curved and formed into a cylindrical shape insuch a manner that the side face X1 is opposite to the side face X2 ofthe layered body, as shown in FIG. 9. Specifically, body structure A issandwiched by two molds, each of which has a semi-cylindrical concavity,and is gradually squeezed so as to form the body structure into acylindrical form. This causes the opposite faces to approach each other,and therefore the squeezing is stopped when the distance between thejoint faces becomes a prescribed interval (e.g., is close to the widthof the diced groove).

Here, a spacer is prepared in advance by means of an injection moldingmethod. The width of the spacer is configured to be a little smallerthan that of the diced groove (e.g., the spacer width is approximately15 micrometers if the diced groove width is approximately 25micrometers; or the spacer width is approximately 40 micrometers if thediced groove width is approximately 50 micrometers). In addition, thespacer uses the same resin as that of the outermost acoustic matchinglayer (i.e., the same resin as that of the second matching layer in thecase of two-layer matching, and likewise that of the third matchinglayer in the case of three-layer matching).

Next, the same resin as that of outermost acoustic matching layer (i.e.,the same resin as that of the second matching layer in the case oftwo-layer matching, and likewise that of the third matching layer in thecase of three-layer matching) is coated as an adhesive on both sidesurfaces of the spacer in the shorter direction.

Next the spacer 29 is inserted into the joint part 28 (i.e., between theside faces X1 and X2) as shown in FIG. 10, followed by further squeezingof the two molds again.

Note that the spacer is sandwiched by the entire surface of the jointfaces in the embodiment described above; the spacer, however, mayalternatively be partially sandwiched as shown in FIG. 11. According tothe configuration of FIG. 11, spacers 29 a and 29 b may be insertedbetween both ends of the side faces X1 and X2 that do not actuallyconstitute a drive part (i.e., a piezoelectric element 23), so that thesame resin as that of the uppermost layer of the outermost acousticmatching layer (i.e., the same resin as that of the second matchinglayer in the case of two-layer matching, and likewise that of the thirdmatching layer in the case of three-layer matching) is filled in betweenthe spacers 29 a and 29 b as the adhesive 31. This configuration makesit possible to reduce influences such as the reflection and attenuationof an ultrasonic wave at a boundary as compared to the case of using aspacer on the entire surface.

The use of the spacer as described above makes it difficult to allow anextraneous gap at the time of molding, making it easy to match theposition of the joint part (that is, in the case of a spacer notexisting, the joint faces do not come into contact, and instead there isa possibility of either face going into the inside of the cylinder. Thispositioning is actually capable of accommodating control on the order of10 micrometers. Note that the squeezing for the molding may be tightenedby preparing a plurality of molds in different sizes for changing from alarger sized mold to a smaller sized mold. Alternately, another methodmay be employed and is not specifically limited.

Once the spacer is mounted onto the joint part 28, the acoustic lens 11is formed on the surface of the cylinder as shown in FIG. 12 (theresultant form is named “body structure B” hereinafter). As to theacoustic lens 11, one produced in advance as a single acoustic lens bodymay be combined with the cylindrically shaped body structure A, or onemay be produced by placing the cylindrically formed body structure A ina mold, followed by the injection of an acoustic lens materialthereinto. Note that lens part 11 a of the acoustic lens 11 actuallyfunctions as an acoustic lens.

Next, a circular structure member 30 a is mounted on the inside of anopening part of body structure B as shown in FIG. 13. In this situation,the structure member 30 a is mounted so as to be positioned on the board20 (refer to FIG. 14A). Likewise, a structure member 30 b is mountedonto the opening part on the other side. In this situation, thestructure member 30 b is mounted to be positioned on the conductiveresin 25 (refer to FIG. 14A).

FIG. 14B shows a cross-section of body structure B with the structuremembers 30 mounted. The mounting of the structure members 30 (i.e., 30 aand 30 b) in FIG. 13 (refer to FIG. 14A) is followed by filling thespace between the structure members 30 a and 30 b with a backing member40 (refer to FIG. 14B). The backing member uses a gelatinous epoxy resinmixed with alumina filler. Next, a conductive body (i.e., a copper wire)41 is mounted on the conductive resin 25 (refer to FIG. 14C) (the bodystructure produced as shown in FIG. 14C is named “body structure C”hereinafter).

Next, a cylindrically formed cylinder member 50 is inserted from oneopening part side of the body structure C (i.e., the side equipped withthe board 20), as shown in FIG. 15. The cylinder member 50 isconstituted by a cylinder part 53 and a circular flange 52 featuredtoward an end thereof. The surface of the flange 52 is equipped with aflexible printed circuit (FPC) board, of which the surface is equippedwith several tens to hundreds of electrode pads 51. Furthermore, a cablebundle 62 is internally led though the cylindrical structure member 50and its tip is soldered to each electrode pad 51 (i.e., the cable 62 isconnected by soldering on the inside (i.e., toward the center of circle)of the electrode pad 51). Note that the cable 62 is usually a coaxialcable for noise reduction.

The cylindrical member 50 is made of an insulator material (e.g.,engineering plastics). The insulator material may include polysulfone,polyether imide, polyphenylene oxide, and/or epoxy resin, for example.

When inserting the cylindrical member 50 thus connected to the cable 62into the body structure C (refer to FIG. 16A), the flange 52 part of thecylindrical member 50 hits the structure members 30 of the bodystructure C, fixing the position of the cylindrical structure member 50,and thus positioning it on the inside of the ultrasonic transducer(refer to FIG. 16B).

FIG. 17 shows the situation of connecting the electrode 20 a of thetransducer element 27 to the outer side of the electrode pad 51 (i.e.,the electrode pad part on the outer circumference of the circle) with awire 90 after the cylindrical structure member 50 is inserted andpositioned (refer to FIG. 16).

FIG. 18 shows a cross-sectional diagram of FIG. 17. As described above,the cable 62 is connected to the center side portion of the flange ofthe electrode pad 51 via soldering. One end of a wire 90 is connected tothe outer side portion of the flange of the electrode pad 51 viasoldering 1011, while the other end is connected to the signal-sideelectrode 20 a existing on the board 20 of the transducer element viasoldering 1021. Note that the aforementioned connection is carried outwith a short wire 90 for preventing electrical short circuits; the shortwire 90 contacts the adjacent signal-side electrode 20 a. Next, theentirety of the connection part between the cable 62 and electrode pad51 is covered with a potting resin 1001 in order to prevent the cable 62from coming off the electrode pad 51 if the cable 62 is pulled by a loadapplied thereto.

Note that the spacer may be colored white by adding titanium oxide tothe spacer material so as to enable the recognition of a spot thereof.Such a configuration makes it easy to discern the first element (i.e.,an element at a joint part).

As described above, the use of the same material, to function as thespacer, as that of the acoustic matching layer on the outermost layer atthe joint part (i.e., the connection spot) when forming an ultrasonictransducer into a cylindrical shape, and the adjustment of the spacerwidth in order to make the width of the joint part the same as that ofthe diced groove, to make the width between the ultrasonic transducerelements and material environment even, and to thus enable thetransmission and reception of ultrasonic waves like the other part,thereby eliminating fluctuations in the acoustic characteristic andimproving the acoustic characteristic.

In the case of applying a high temperature sterilization process such asautoclaving to an endoscope used for a treatment, a difference inmaterials at the joint part may cause a risk of cracking due todifferent stress levels resulting from the different thermal expansioncoefficients of the individual materials. The use of the same materialfor all components at the joint part according to the present inventionprevents biased stress and accordingly prevents the possibility ofcracks. The durability of the ultrasonic transducer is thereforeimproved.

Also, a uniform image quality can be obtained over 360 degrees becausethe influence of the joint part is limited to the minimum. Positioningis easy because the width of the joint part is adjusted by the spacer.Practically, it can be adjusted to a precision on the order of 10micrometers. A recognition of the first element (i.e., the element atthe joint part) is no longer required since both the intervals and thematerial between elements are all the same.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toa preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that the samelabels from FIG. 3 are assigned to components that are the same as thecomprisal shown in FIG. 3.

For example, the ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19,comprising a piezoelectric element 1121, a first acoustic matching layer1122, a second acoustic matching layer 1123 and division members 1124,is equipped in an ultrasound endoscope apparatus in a similar manner tothe ultrasonic transducer array 1120 shown in FIG. 3.

The piezoelectric element 1121, first acoustic matching layer 1122 andsecond acoustic matching layer 1123 are divided into a plurality thereofby commonly formed grooves, thus comprising a plurality of ultrasonictransducers (corresponding to the ultrasonic transducer elements 27).

The division member 1124 is constituted by resin or particlesattenuating an ultrasonic wave and is structured by being filled intothe grooves commonly formed in the piezoelectric element 1121, firstacoustic matching layer 1122 and second acoustic matching layer 1123,followed by being hardened.

Note that the ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19 isconfigured to place the piezoelectric element 1121 on two acousticmatching layers, i.e., the first acoustic matching layer 1122 and thesecond acoustic matching layer 1123; an ultrasonic transducer array 110,however, may also be configured so as to place a piezoelectric element1121 on one acoustic matching layer or no less than three acousticmatching layers. The ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19may also be configured to place a piezoelectric element 1121 on abacking member and form grooves starting from the upper surface of thepiezoelectric element 1121 and continuing down to a part of the backingmember, thereby constituting a plurality of ultrasonic transducers. Theultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19 may also be configuredto place a piezoelectric element 1121 on a backing member, to furtherplace one or more acoustic matching layers on the piezoelectric element1121, and to form grooves starting from the top surface of the acousticmatching layer and continuing down to a part of the backing member,thereby constituting a plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

The feature of the ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19 liesin coloring a division member 1124 adjacent to a predefined ultrasonictransducer (i.e., the division member 1124-4 according to the exampleshown in FIG. 19) by mixing with metallic compounds such as metalpowder, colcothar, alumina, tungsten oxide, or silica, or with particlessuch as carbon, as a colorant for the division member 1124. Note thatthe division member 1124 may be mixed with a different kinds ofcolorant. For example, mixing the division member 1124 with colcotharmakes it red, mixing the division member 1124 with alumina or silicamakes it white, mixing the division member 1124 with tungsten oxidemakes it green, and mixing the division member 1124 with carbon makes itblack.

Note that the predefined ultrasonic transducer may be an ultrasonictransducer that exists at the end of a plurality thereof that arearrayed continuously and that are capable of transmitting and receivingultrasonic waves. The predefined ultrasonic transducer may also be, forexample, one of two ultrasonic transducers capable of transmitting andreceiving two different frequencies, respectively. The predefinedultrasonic transducer may also be one of two ultrasonic transducershaving different usage purposes (such as diagnosis and treatment), forexample. The predefined ultrasonic transducer may also be one of twoultrasonic transducers existing on the border between the operation partand the non-operation part, for example. That is, referring to FIG. 19,if each ultrasonic transducer adjacent to the division members 1124-1through 1124-3 is defined as the non-operation part and each ultrasonictransducer adjacent to division members other than the division members1124-1 through 1124-3 is defined as the operation part, an ultrasonictransducer adjacent to the division member 1124-4 may be defined as apredefined ultrasonic transducer. The color of a division member 1124adjacent to a predefined ultrasonic transducer may be made to bedifferent from that of other division members 1124 by removing acolorant from the division member 1124 adjacent to the predefinedultrasonic transducer. In addition, two or more of the predefinedultrasonic transducers may be provided in the ultrasonic transducerarray 110, and if it is configured as such, then the individual divisionmembers 1124 corresponding to those ultrasonic transducers maybe coloreddifferently from one another.

As such, since the color of the division member 1124 adjacent to thepredefined ultrasonic transducer is different from that of otherdivision members 1124, it is possible to use the division member 1124adjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer as a positioning markvia a visual or image processing, and therefore this configurationenables the easy identification of the predefined ultrasonic transducer.

This configuration makes it possible to easily identify a predefinedultrasonic transducer that needs to be wired when wiring a signal wireto each ultrasonic transducer in a production process of the ultrasonictransducer array 110.

It is also possible to easily identify a predefined ultrasonictransducer constituting a target of inspection in an inspection of theultrasonic transducer array 110, for instance.

It is also possible to easily identify a predefined ultrasonictransducer in which a problem has occurred when repairing the ultrasonictransducer array 110, for instance.

The easy identification of a predefined ultrasonic transducer asdescribed above enables the workability and productivity of a worker ortechnician to be improved and enables an improvement in the preventionof mistakes in the production, inspection, repair, etcetera, of anultrasound endoscope apparatus.

A change of color on a division member may be for a part thereof, inlieu of being limited to the entirety of the division member.

In the division member 1124-4 shown in FIG. 19 for example, it ispossible to change color on only one end part or on only both end parts.

This configuration makes the division members and that of otherultrasonic transducers completely the same for a piezoelectric element1121 and for other elements close to it, thereby providing the benefitof making the performance of the ultrasonic transducer uniform.

Additionally, it is also possible to use a division member having adifferent pattern to vary color.

For example, it is possible to have a part for varying a color, for thedivision member 1124-4 shown in FIG. 19, for example, on only one endpart, on only both end parts, or in a plurality of points in thedivision member; it is also possible to change length of a part ofvarying a color or to intermingle the place and length of a pattern.

This configuration provides the benefit of enabling a judgment of thesignificance of points having different colors at a glance by means of amethod similar to a barcode.

The ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19 may also bestructured as a radial system ultrasonic transducer array, via endsurfaces in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction ofthe ultrasonic transducer array 110 being connected to each other so asto be formed into a ring shape.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer arrayconstituted by the ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19.Note that the same labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components thatare the same as the comprisal shown in FIG. 19. Note that the ultrasonictransducer array 110 shown in FIG. 20 may be alternatively configured tonot comprise a frame member 1130 (corresponding to the structure member30 a).

As shown in FIG. 20, even though the ultrasonic transducer array 110 isnow structured to be a radial system, making it difficult to discernwhich ultrasonic transducer is at an end part, a predefined ultrasonictransducer can be easily identified because the color of division member1124-4 adjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer is differentfrom that of other division members 1124-1 and 1124-2.

Defining the ultrasonic transducer at an end part in the operation partas a predefined ultrasonic transducer makes it possible to countultrasonic transducers in sequence from an ultrasonic transducer at theend part, enabling the easy identification of a target ultrasonictransducer.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that thesame labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components that are the same asthe comprisal shown in FIG. 19.

Similar to the ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19, theultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21, comprising apiezoelectric element 1121, a first acoustic matching layer 1122, asecond acoustic matching layer 1123, and division members 1124, isequipped in an ultrasound endoscope apparatus.

Note that the ultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21 isconfigured to place the piezoelectric element 1121 on two acousticmatching layers, i.e., the first acoustic matching layer 1122 and thesecond acoustic matching layer 1123; however, an ultrasonic transducerarray 130 may also be configured to place a piezoelectric element 1121on one acoustic matching layer or on no less than three acousticmatching layers. The ultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21may also be configured to place a piezoelectric element 1121 on abacking member and to form grooves starting from the upper surface ofthe piezoelectric element 1121 and continuing down to a part of thebacking member, thereby constituting a plurality of ultrasonictransducers. The ultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21 mayalso be configured to place a piezoelectric element 1121 on a backingmember, to further place one or more acoustic matching layers on thepiezoelectric element 1121, and to form grooves starting from the topsurface of the acoustic matching layer and continuing down to a part ofthe backing member, thereby constituting a plurality of ultrasonictransducers.

The feature of the ultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21 liesin the configuration wherein a plate shaped division member 1124 that iscolored differently from the division member 1124 adjacent to anultrasonic transducer other than the predefined ultrasonic transducer isinserted into a groove adjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer.

Note that the predefined ultrasonic transducer may be an ultrasonictransducer that exists at the end of a plurality thereof that arearrayed continuously and that are capable of transmitting and receivingultrasonic waves. The predefined ultrasonic transducer may also be, forexample, one of two ultrasonic transducers capable of transmitting andreceiving two different frequencies, respectively. The predefinedultrasonic transducer may also be one of two ultrasonic transducershaving different usage purposes (such as diagnosis and treatment), forexample. The predefined ultrasonic transducer may also be one of twoultrasonic transducers existing on the border between the operation partand the non-operation part for example. That is, referring to FIG. 21,if each ultrasonic transducer adjacent to the division members 1124-1through 1124-3 is defined as the non-operation part, and each ultrasonictransducer adjacent to division members other than the division members1124-1 through 1124-3 is defined as the operation part, an ultrasonictransducer adjacent to the division member 1124-4 may be defined as thepredefined ultrasonic transducer. In addition, two or more of thepredefined ultrasonic transducers may be provided in the ultrasonictransducer array 130, and if it is configured as such, individualdivision members 1124 corresponding to those ultrasonic transducers maybe colored differently from one another. Also, when inserting a plateshaped division member 1124-4 into a groove adjacent to a predefinedultrasonic transducer, a plate shaped division member that is a littlelarger than the groove may be inserted followed by the removal of a partcoming out of the groove.

As such, even if a plate form division member 1124 of a color that isdifferent from that of a division member 1124 adjacent to an ultrasonictransducer other than a predefined ultrasonic transducer is insertedinto a groove adjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer, it ispossible to use the inserted division member 1124 as a positioning markvia visual or image processing, thereby enabling easy identification ofthe predefined ultrasonic transducer.

The ultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21 may also bestructured as a radial system ultrasonic transducer array by endsurfaces, locating in the direction perpendicular to the array, of theultrasonic transducer array 130 being connected to each other so as tobe formed into a circular form.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a radial system ultrasonic transducer arrayconstituted by the ultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 21.Note that the same labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components thatare the same as the comprisal shown in FIG. 19. Note also that theultrasonic transducer array 130 shown in FIG. 22 may be alternativelyconfigured to not comprise a frame member 1130.

As shown in FIG. 22, even though the ultrasonic transducer array 130 isnow structured to be a radial system, making it difficult to discernwhich ultrasonic transducer is at an end part, a predefined ultrasonictransducer can be easily identified because the color of division member1124-4 inserted into a groove adjacent to the predefined ultrasonictransducer is different from those of other division members, 1124-1,1124-2, et cetera.

Defining the ultrasonic transducer at an end part in the operation partas a predefined ultrasonic transducer makes it possible to countultrasonic transducers in sequence from the one at the end part,enabling the easy identification of a target ultrasonic transducer.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that thesame labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components that are the same asthe comprisal shown in FIG. 19.

The ultrasonic transducer array 150 shown in FIG. 23 comprises apiezoelectric element 1121, a first acoustic matching layer 1122, anddivision members 1124 that are provided in a common groove for thepiezoelectric element 1121 and first acoustic matching layer 1122,constituting a plurality of ultrasonic transducers by virtue of theaforementioned grooves.

In addition, all of the ultrasonic transducers (e.g., 192 ultrasonictransducers thereof) of the ultrasonic transducer array 150 are dividedinto several blocks, each of which comprises a continuously arrayedplurality of ultrasonic transducers (e.g., 32 ultrasonic transducersthereof) having the same characteristic or function.

In addition, the ultrasonic transducer array 150 differentiates thecolors of the division members 1124 for each block.

In the example shown in FIG. 23, all of the ultrasonic transducers aregrouped into blocks 151, 152, and 153. Possible methods for grouping theultrasonic transducers include grouping them according to the differencein frequency of ultrasonic waves, according to usage purposes (i.e.,diagnosis, treatment, et cetera), or according to whether they are inthe operation part or the non-operation part, among other possibilities.

For example, if block 151 is defined as the non-operation part, block152 is defined as the group used for treatment, and block 153 is definedas the group used for diagnosis, then the coloring may be such that thedivision members 1124 placed adjacent to the respective ultrasonictransducers constituting block 151 are colored white, the ones placedadjacent to the respective ultrasonic transducers constituting block 152are colored red, while the ones placed adjacent to the respectiveultrasonic transducers constituting block 153 are colored green.

Note that one possible method for differentiating the color of divisionmembers for each block may be by means of filling a groove with adivision member 1124 that has been mixed with a specific colorant, thenletting the division member 1124 hardened or inserting a plate formdivision member 1124 that is specifically colored into a groove.

Alternately, the colors may be differentiated of only two divisionmembers 1124 placed adjacent to each ultrasonic transducer located onboth ends of a certain block from the other division members 1124.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that thesame labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components that are the same asthe comprisal shown in FIG. 19.

The feature of the radial system ultrasonic transducer array 160 shownin FIG. 24 lies in the fact that a mark 161 is attached to a framemember 1130 that is located close to a division member 1124 placedadjacent to a predefined ultrasonic transducer, in order to indicate aposition thereof.

Note that the mark 161 may be attached to the frame member 1130 by meansof a contact method such as a the use of a marker line, screen printing,or other such method, or a noncontact method such as the use of aninkjet printer, the use of a laser marker, or other such method. Also,the position for attaching a mark 161 to the frame member 1130 may beselected to be close to a predefined ultrasonic transducer. Alternately,the following are possible: a mark 161 may be attached to the framemember 1130 so as to distinguish the characteristic or function of anultrasonic transducer; a mark 161 may be attached to a prescribed spoton the frame member 1130 in advance for use in assembling the ultrasonictransducer array 160 with the mark 161 being used as a reference point;or, a mark 161 may be attached to a predetermined spot on the framemember 1130 after completing the assembly of the ultrasonic transducerarray 160. The color or shape of the mark 161 has no particularlimitation.

Thus attaching the mark 161 to the frame member 1130 makes it possibleto easily identify a predefined ultrasonic transducer, as in the case ofthe ultrasonic transducer array 110 and ultrasonic transducer array 130stated above.

Incidentally, the mark 161 shown in FIG. 24 may be attached at apredetermined spot on a frame member 1130 (i.e., a frame member 1130placed close to a predefined ultrasonic transducer, or a frame member1130 placed close to the division member 1124-4) of the ultrasonictransducer array 110 shown in FIG. 20 or the ultrasonic transducer array130 shown in FIG. 22.

This configuration makes it possible to improve the accuracy ofpositioning when assembling a plurality of ultrasonic transducers and aframe member 1130 together.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that thesame labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components that are the same asthe comprisal shown in FIG. 19.

The ultrasonic transducer array 170 shown in FIG. 25 is a convex systemultrasonic transducer array transmitting an ultrasonic wave in a radialpattern, and comprises a piezoelectric element 1121; a first acousticmatching layer 1122 and a second acoustic matching layer 1123; divisionmembers 1124 equipped in common grooves of the piezoelectric element1121, first acoustic matching layer 1122, and second acoustic matchinglayer 1123; and a frame member 171 for retaining a plurality ofultrasonic transducers divisionally structured as a result of theaforementioned grooves dividing the piezoelectric element 1121, firstacoustic matching layer 1122, and second acoustic matching layer 1123.

The feature of the convex system ultrasonic transducer array 170 shownin FIG. 24 lies in the fact that a mark 172 is attached to a framemember 171 placed close to a division member 1124-4 existing close to apredefined ultrasonic transducer, in order to indicate the positionthereof.

Note that the mark 172 may be attached to the frame member 171 by meansof a contact method such as the use of a marker line, screen printing,or other such method, or a non-contact method such as the use of aninkjet printer, the use of a laser marker, or other such method. Also,the position for attaching a mark 161 to the frame member 171 may beclose to a predefined ultrasonic transducer. Alternately, the followingare possible: a mark 172 may be attached to the frame member 171 so asto distinguish the characteristic or function of an ultrasonictransducer; a mark 172 may be attached to a prescribed spot on the framemember 171 in advance for use in assembling the ultrasonic transducerarray 170, with the mark 172 being used as a reference point; or, a mark172 may be attached to a predetermined spot of the frame member 171after completing the assembly of the ultrasonic transducer array 170.The color or the shape of the mark 172 has no particular limitation.

Thus attaching the mark 172 to the frame member 171 makes it possible toeasily identify a predefined ultrasonic transducer, as in the case ofultrasonic transducer array 110 and ultrasonic transducer array 130.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that thesame labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components that are the same asthe comprisal shown in FIG. 19.

The ultrasonic transducer array 180 shown in FIG. 26, which is a linearsystem ultrasonic transducer array for transmitting an ultrasonic wavein a straight line, comprises an ultrasonic transducer part 181constituted by a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arrayed in astraight line, an acoustic matching layer and division members, and aframe member 182 for retaining the plurality of ultrasonic transducers.

The feature of the linear system ultrasonic transducer array 180 lies inthe fact that a mark 183 is attached to a frame member 182 placed closeto a division member existing adjacent to a predefined ultrasonictransducer, in order to indicate the position thereof.

Note that the mark 183 maybe attached to the frame member 182 by meansof a contact method such as the use of a marker line, screen printing,or other such methods, or a noncontact method such as the use of aninkjet printer, the use of a laser marker, or other such methods. Also,the position for attaching a mark 183 to the frame member 182 may beclose to a predefined ultrasonic transducer. Alternately, the followingare possible: a mark 183 may be attached to the frame member 182 so asto distinguish the characteristic or function of an ultrasonictransducer; a mark 183 may be attached to a prescribed spot of the framemember182 in advance for use in assembling the ultrasonic transducerarray 180, with the mark 183 being used as a reference point; or a mark183 may be attached to a predetermined spot of the frame member 182after completing the assembly of the ultrasonic transducer array 170.The color or shape of the mark 183 is not particularly limited.

Thus attaching the mark 183 to the frame member 182 makes it possible toeasily identify a predefined ultrasonic transducer, as in the case ofthe ultrasonic transducer array 110 and ultrasonic transducer array 130.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array according toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention. Note that thesame labels from FIG. 19 are assigned to components that are the same asthe comprisal shown in FIG. 19.

The feature of the radial system ultrasonic transducer array 190 shownin FIG. 27 lies in the fact that individual ultrasonic transducers isformed into a circular pattern by connecting, via a connection member191, the end faces in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the ultrasonic transducer array 110 shown in FIG. 19, andalso the fact that the color of the connection member 191 is differentfrom that of the division members 1124. Note that the material of theconnection member 191 is not limited to any particular material.

As such, even if the ultrasonic transducer array 190 is a radial systemultrasonic transducer array, the differentiation of the color of theconnection member 191 from that of division members 1124 makes itpossible to identify an ultrasonic transducer at an end part andtherefore the ultrasonic transducer can be counted in sequence from theone at the end part, thereby enabling the easy identification of apredefined ultrasonic transducer.

FIG. 28 is a diagonal view diagram of an ultrasonic transducer.

The ultrasonic transducer 100 according to the present embodiment asshown in FIG. 28, being configured as a radial array type, primarilycomprises an acoustic matching layer 200, a piezoelectric element (to bedescribed later), a backing member 300 and an transducer shape formingmember 400 (corresponding to the structure member 30 a or frame member1130), which is formed into a cylindrical shape.

The acoustic matching layer 200 is formed by layering the first acousticmatching layer 200 a, which is hardened by using materials including aplastics member (such as epoxy series, silicone series, polyimideseries, et cetera) mixed with powder or fibers (such as metal, ceramics,glass, et cetera), or materials including glass, machinable ceramics,silicon, or other such materials, and the second flexible acousticmatching layer 200 b, which is made of a resin member (such as silicone,epoxy, PEEK (Registered Trademark), polyimide, polyether imide,polysulfone, polyether sulfone, fluorine series resin, et cetera), or anelastomer-like material. A board 700 is described later herein.

The transducer shape forming member 400 is formed by a fiber-reinforcedthermoset polyphenylether (PPE). The fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPEhas characteristics such as high shape accuracy and insulationproperties, allowing the attachment of a conductor pattern, thermalresistance against soldering, and a high adhesiveness. Preferably usablebrand names include “TLC-W-596” and “TLC-W-598” manufactured by KYOCERAChemical Corp.; “PPC series”, “RCC series” and “A PPE series”manufactured by Asahi Kasei Corp.; and “CS-3376 series” and “CS-3665Eseries” manufactured by Risho Kogyo Co., Ltd., for example.

FIG. 29 is a longitudinal cross-sectional diagram describing a comprisalof an ultrasonic transducer; FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional diagram of thesection A-A shown in FIG. 29.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the ultrasonic transducer 100 comprises, inorder from the center side, a backing member 300, piezoelectric element500 and board 700, a first acoustic matching layer 200 a and a secondacoustic matching layer 200 b.

As shown in FIGS. 28 and 30, the backing member 300 and the firstacoustic matching layer 200 a are arrayed by being divided intopredetermined pieces, respectively, e.g., 192 pieces. The internalperiphery side of each piezoelectric element 500 is equipped withone-face-side electrode 500 a and the outer periphery side is equippedwith an other-face-side electrode 500 b.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged diagram of the part indicated by arrow B in FIG.29; FIG. 32 is a diagram describing another configuration example of thepart indicated by arrow B in FIG. 29; FIG. 33 is a diagram describinganother configuration example of the part indicated by arrow B in FIG.29; and FIG. 34 is an enlarged diagram of the part indicated by arrow Cin FIG. 29.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, one end side of the ultrasonic transducer100 comprises the acoustic matching layer 200 and is comprised so as toprotrude further than the piezoelectric element 500. In addition, thetransducer shape forming member 400 is fixed, with an adhesive, on theinternal circumferential surface of the first acoustic matching layer200 a constituting the protruding acoustic matching layer 200.

A predetermined position of the first acoustic matching layer 200 aconstituting the acoustic matching layer 200 is equipped with aground-use conductive material (“ground electrode” hereinafter) 600 thatis configured to place a band-formed conductive material in such a wayso as to be approximately flush with the surface of the first acousticmatching layer 200 a, for example. Electrical continuity is obtained forthe other-face-side electrode 500 b to the ground electrode 600 byplacing the other-face-side electrode 500 b thereon.

In addition, the present embodiment is configured to equip a conductionpart 400 a on one-face-side and on a face, that is a predeterminedposition of the transducer shape forming member 400, opposite the groundelectrode 600 on the outer circumferential surface. Electricalcontinuity is obtained for the conduction part 400 a to the groundelectrode 600 by fixing, with a conductive adhesive (not shown herein)that is a conductive member, the transducer shape forming member 400 onthe internal circumferential surface of the first acoustic matchinglayer 200 a. The conductive member may be soldering, metallic grazingsuch as silver grazing, gold grazing, et cetera, or a conductive film,instead of being limited to being a conductive adhesive.

Also, the conduction part 400 a may be equipped only on one-face-side ofthe transducer shape forming member 400, as shown in FIG. 33. In such acase, the configuration is such that the ground electrode 600 isexternally exposed and electrical continuity for the conduction part 400a to the ground electrode 600 is secured by using a conductive materialsuch as a conductive resin, conductive painting, or other such material,or a conductive film such as one of various conductive thin films, athick film, plating, et cetera. Also possible is a combination of theaforementioned means.

As shown in FIG. 34, a board 700 that is formed into approximately thesame thickness as the piezoelectric element 500 is placed adjacent tothe other end side of the ultrasonic transducer 100. The board 700 is athree-dimensional board, alumina board, glass epoxy board, rigidflexible board, flexible board, or other such board, in which aconductive pattern 700 a formed on the board 700 is electricallyconnected to the one-face-side electrode 500 a of the piezoelectricelement 500 by way of a conduction member 800 placed on the conductivepattern 700 a and the face-side electrode 500 a.

Note that the piezoelectric element 500 is formed by cutting aplate-formed piezoelectric ceramics such as lead zirconate titanate,lead titanate, barium titanate, or BNT-BS-ST, or piezoelectriccrystallization (such as LiNbO₃ or PZNT) and relax or ferroelectricsone-side electrode 500 a and the other-face-side electrode 500 b each isconfigured, in advance, in such a manner that a conductive member suchas gold, silver, copper, nickel, or chromium is placed, in a form ofthin film by baking, vapor deposition, sputtering, or ion plating, or byplating the above materials as a single layer, multiple layers or analloy layer onto the surface of a plate-formed piezoelectric ceramic.

The backing member 300 may be made of various materials such as a resinmember (such as epoxy, silicone, polyimide, polyether imide,polyetherether ketone (PEEK), urethane, or fluorine), an elastomermaterial (such as a chloroprene elastomer, propylene series elastomer,butadiene series elastomer, urethane series elastomer, silicone serieselastomer, or fluorine series elastomer), or these resin materials orelastomer materials mixed with the filler of a single material or aplurality of materials and/or forms consisting of powder, fiber orhollow particles constituted by a metal such as tungsten, ceramics (suchas alumina, zirconia, silica, tungsten oxide, piezoelectric ceramicpowder, or ferrite), glass, resin, or other such materials. The presentembodiment is configured to use an epoxy resin mixed with alumina powderfollowed by hardening of the mixture.

Next is a description of an assembly process of the ultrasonictransducer 100 configured as described above by referring to FIGS. 35through 47.

(1) Process for Forming the Acoustic Matching Layer 200

FIG. 35 is a diagram describing members for forming an acoustic matchinglayer, and FIG. 36 is a diagram describing the acoustic matching layer.

In order to form the acoustic matching layer 200, in the first step thefirst acoustic matching layer 200 a and second acoustic matching layer200 b are prepared. These acoustic matching layers have predeterminedsizes and forms, as shown in FIG. 35, and the acoustic impedance valuesare adjusted to predetermined values. A plate shaped ground electrode600 is placed on a prescribed position of the one-face-side of the firstacoustic matching layer 200 a.

Next the acoustic matching layer 200 is formed by integrally layeringthe first acoustic matching layer 200 a and the second acoustic matchinglayer 200 b, as shown in FIG. 36. In this process, the second acousticmatching layer 200 b is placed on the other-face-side of the firstacoustic matching layer 200 a where a ground electrode 600 is notprovided. As described in the present embodiment, the acoustic matchinglayers may be integrated after each thereof is made to be predeterminedthickness; the predetermined thickness of the acoustic matching layersmay be established after the integration, the layers may be formeddirectly by the coating, injection molding, filming, or other suchmethods of one layer to the other in place of joining the two layerswith an adhesive, or the above described methods may be combined.

The ground electrode can be constituted by adhering a conductive member1200 formed as a plate of predetermined width and thickness to a groove1100 of predetermined width and depth that was formed at a predeterminedposition on the first acoustic matching layer 200 a; by adhering in thegroove 1100 a conductive member 1200 formed as a plate of predeterminedwidth and a thickness that is a little thicker than the aforementioneddepth or by filling (or coating) the groove 1100 with a conductive resinor other such material so as to cause it to protrude from the groovefollowed by processing to make the protruded conductive member flushwith the surface of the first acoustic matching layer 200 a; by adheringa conductive member into the groove 1100 (or filling the groove 1100with a conductive member or coating the groove 1100 with a conductivemember) of the first acoustic matching layer 200 a that formed to bethicker than a predetermined thickness followed by processing to make itthe predetermined thickness; or by one of various conductive films. Notethat the ground electrode 600 can use a conductive material such as aconductive resin, conductive paint, metal, et cetera, and a conductivefilm such as one of various conductive thin films, a conductive thickfilm, plating, et cetera.

(2) Process for Forming a First Layer Body

FIG. 37 is a diagram describing a member for forming a first layer body,and FIG. 38 is a diagram describing the first layer body.

In order to form the first layer body, the acoustic matching layer 200is prepared in the first step, and piezoelectric ceramics 1300 areprovided with the one-face-side electrode 500 a and other-face-sideelectrode 500 b as shown in FIG. 37. The piezoelectric ceramics 1300 areformed to be shorter than the length of the acoustic matching layer 200by a predetermined size, to be approximately the same width and to be apredetermined thickness.

Next, the acoustic matching layer 200 is turned over, as shown in FIG.38, the other-face-side electrode 500 b of the piezoelectric ceramics1300 is placed at a prescribed position on the ground electrode 600provided on the first acoustic matching layer 200 a, in which state isfixed onto the first acoustic matching layer 200 a (with an adhesive,not shown herein) the piezoelectric ceramics 1300.

This process forms the first layer body 2100, integrating the acousticmatching layer 200 and piezoelectric ceramics 1300 and giving themelectrical continuity between the other-face-side electrode 500 b andthe ground electrode 600. In this event, one of the end face sides ofthe acoustic matching layer 200 equipped with the ground electrode 600is in the state of protruding from one of the end surface sides of thepiezoelectric ceramics 1300 by a prescribed amount “a”.

(3) Process for Forming a Second Layer Body

FIG. 39 is a diagram describing members for forming a second layer body,and FIG. 40 is a diagram describing the second layer body.

In order to form the second layer body, in the first step are preparedthe first layer body 2100 and a board 700 that is approximately the samethickness as the piezoelectric ceramics 1300 shown in FIG. 39 and thatcan have a regularly formed plurality of conductive pattern 700 a on onesurface. Next, the board 700 is placed next to the piezoelectricceramics 1300 in the state of the conductive pattern 700 a being upsideas shown in FIG. 40, and is adhered onto the first acoustic matchinglayer 200 a.

This process forms the second layer body 2200, with the piezoelectricceramics 1300 and board 700 being placed adjacent to each other on thesurface of the first acoustic matching layer 200 a. Note that the widthand length of the board 700 are set at the respective predeterminedsizes.

(4) Process for Electrically Connecting the Conductive Pattern 700 a tothe One-Face-Side Electrode 500 a of the Piezoelectric Ceramics 1300

FIG. 41 is a diagram describing a process for electrically connecting aone-face-side electrode of piezoelectric ceramics to the conductionpattern of a board.

As shown in FIG. 41, in the first step a mask member (not shown herein)is placed at a predetermined position on the surfaces of the board 700,which has the conductive pattern 700 a, and on the surface of thepiezoelectric ceramics 1300, which have the one-face-side electrode 500a, of the second layer body 2200, and a conductive paint or conductiveadhesive is coated on them son that a conductive film part 1400 isformed on them.

This process electrically connects the conductive pattern 700 a to theone-face-side electrode 500 a by way of the conductive film part 1400.

(5) Process for Dividing the Piezoelectric Ceramics 1300 into aPlurality of Piezoelectric Elements 500

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing a state of dividing piezoelectric ceramicsinto piezoelectric elements via division grooves, FIG. 43 is a diagramshowing a second layer body that has a predetermined number of divisiongrooves, and FIG. 44 is a diagram showing the deformation of a secondlayer body that has a plurality of piezoelectric elements.

As shown in FIG. 42, there are division grooves 1500 of a predetermineddepth starting from the surface of the piezoelectric ceramics 1300 andthe board 700, cutting through the first acoustic matching layer 200 aconstituting the acoustic matching layer 200, and reaching a part of thesecond acoustic matching layer 200 b; these are made a predeterminedwidth or predetermined form in a predetermined pitch in the directionperpendicular to the longitudinal direction by using cutting means suchas a dicing saw or laser apparatus (neither is shown herein). To dothis, the cutting means is placed on the center line that divides thetwo conductive patterns 700 a.

This process divides the board 700 that has a plurality of conductionpatterns 700 a into a plurality of boards 700 that have the conductivepattern 700 a and also divides one piece of the piezoelectric ceramics1300 into a plurality of piezoelectric elements 500 (corresponding tothe above described ultrasonic transducer elements 27 or to a pluralityof ultrasonic transducers). In this event, the conductive film part 1400is also divided into a plurality of conductive members 800. This processarrays the piezoelectric elements 500 to which the conductive pattern700 a is connected by way of the conductive members 800 on the acousticmatching layer 200.

By the forming of a predetermined number of the division grooves 1500 inthe second layer body 2200 at a predetermined pitch as shown in FIG. 43,the piezoelectric ceramics 1300, the board 700, the conductive film part1400 and the first acoustic matching layer 200 a are divided into apredetermined number of pieces, and thus changing the second layer body2200 comprised a piezoelectric ceramics 1300 and a board 700 into asecond layer body 2200 a equipped with a plurality of piezoelectricelements 500 and boards 700. That is, causing a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements 500 to be arrayed on the second acoustic matchinglayer 200 b having flexibility and constituting the acoustic matchinglayer 200.

Therefore, the second layer body 2200 a comprising a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements 500 can be formed into a cylindrical form asshown in FIG. 44 by bending the second layer body 2200 with placing thesecond acoustic matching layer 200 b on the outermost circumference.

Note that a part that becomes unnecessary for the formation of theultrasonic transducer 100, for example the part of the acoustic matchinglayer 200 indicated by the diagonal lines in FIG. 42, is removed afterforming the division grooves 1500. Likewise, unnecessary parts caneventually be removed by using larger sizes of individual membersconstituting the second layer body (greater length for example) than thepredetermined forms. Furthermore, an electrical continuity test iscarried out, on an as-required basis, to validate the electricalconnection of the one-face-side electrode 500 a of each of thepiezoelectric elements 500 to the conductive pattern 700 a of the board700 by way of the conductive member 800.

(6) Process for Forming a Cylindrical Unit 2300

FIG. 45 is a diagram describing a member for forming a cylindricallyformed transducer unit, FIG. 46 is a diagram showing the placement of antransducer shape forming member on the first acoustic matching layer,and FIG. 47 is a diagram showing the placement of the transducer shapeforming member on a board.

In order to form a cylindrical unit 2300, in the first step are preparedthe second layer body 2200 a and the cylindrically formed transducershape forming members 400A and 400B that are respectively formed intopredetermined sizes by using fiber reinforced thermosetting PPE members,as shown in FIG. 45. Next, the second layer body 2200 a is formed into acylinder followed by the integral fixing, with a conductive adhesive, ofthe transducer shape forming member 400A onto the first acousticmatching layer 200 a of the acoustic matching layer 200, as shown inFIG. 46.

Also, the transducer shape forming member 400B is integrally fixed witha nonconductive adhesive onto the internal circumference side of theboard 700 provided adjacent to the piezoelectric elements 500, as shownin FIG. 47.

This process adherently fixes the first acoustic matching layer 200 a,which is a hard member, to the transducer shape forming member 400A,which is made of a fiber reinforced thermosetting PPE, and fixes a board700 to the transducer shape forming member 400B, which is also a fiberreinforced thermosetting PPE, hence forming the cylindrical unit 2300having a prescribed curvature from the second layer body 2200 a. In thisevent, the ground electrode 600, which has an electrical continuity withthe other-face-side electrodes 500 b provided on each of the dividedpiezoelectric elements 500, and the conduction part 400 a of thetransducer shape forming member 400A come to have an integral electricalcontinuity. The connection of a ground wire extending from an ultrasonicwave observation apparatus (not shown herein) to the conduction part 400a secures a ground connection with a sufficiently large capacity. Notethat the transducer shape forming member 400A may alternatively be fixedwith a nonconductive adhesive, followed by electrically connecting it bymeans of a conductive thin film, conductive resin, conductive thickfilm, or other such conductor, without ushering in any problems.

The backing member uses a material such as an elastomer mixed withferrite or epoxy resin mixed with alumina powder for the one-face-sideelectrode 500 a side, and is added by means of an adhesion, injectionmolding, or other such process. This process forms a radial array typeultrasonic transducer comprised as shown in the above described FIGS. 28through 30.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an transducer shape forming member and asecond layer body for forming a convex array type transducer unit, andFIG. 49 is a diagram showing an transducer shape forming member and asecond layer body for forming a linear array type transducer unit.

As described above, the present embodiment is a process for forming theradial array type ultrasonic transducer 100 using the transducer shapeforming members 400A and 400B, whereas a convex array type transducerunit is formed by fixing, in lieu of using the transducer shape formingmembers 400A and 400B which have been shown in the process for formingthe cylindrical unit 2300 described in the above paragraph (6),transducer shape forming members 400C and 400D, which are respectivelyformed into a partial circle as shown in FIG. 48, onto a first acousticmatching layer 200 a of a second layer body 2200 b, which is dividedinto a predetermined number of pieces in a prescribed form as describedabove, comprising piezoelectric elements 500.

Comparably, a linear array type ultrasonic transducer is formed byfixing a plate-formed transducer shape forming member 400E, of which theend part is flat, onto a first acoustic matching layer 200 a of a secondlayer body 2200 c in such a manner that the flat part comes to contactwith the first acoustic matching layer 200 a, as in the abovedescription and as shown in FIG. 49. Furthermore, an end part form ofthe transducer shape forming member is not limited to being circular orlinear, and instead a combination or modification of those shapes isviable, thereby making it possible to set an ultrasonic wave scanningdirection discretionarily.

As described above, the fixed placement of an transducer shape formingmember made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE formed into aprescribed form onto a hard first acoustic matching layer constitutingan acoustic matching layer and protruding from the piezoelectricelements makes it possible to highly accurately form an ultrasonictransducer in a prescribed form and also to form the ultrasonictransducer while preventing, with certainty, the occurrence of a failuredue to residual stress.

With this fixed placement of an transducer shape forming member,piezoelectric elements formed by dividing piezoelectric ceramics into aplurality of pieces are arrayed highly accurately, thereby enabling theobtainment of ultrasonic wave observation images of high image qualityover a long period of time.

Note that the above described embodiments are configured to use afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE for the transducer shape formingmember; they may, however, use a common hard member for the transducershape forming member, over which an insulative member made of afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE in the same form may be used as thetransducer shape forming member as a member for insulating theultrasonic transducer.

FIG. 50 is a diagram for describing a comprisal of a radial typeultrasonic transducer using an insulative member made of afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE, and FIG. 51 is a diagram showing aradial type ultrasonic transducer using an insulative member made of afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE.

In order to form a radial type ultrasonic transducer 100 a, in the firststep are prepared the acoustic matching layer 200, transducer shapeforming members 3100 a and 3100 b, which are made of a hard material andformed into a cylindrical form in a prescribed size, and a cylindricallyformed insulative member 3200 a, which is made of a fiber-reinforcedthermosetting PPE and formed into approximately the same shape as thetransducer shape forming members 3100 a and 3100 b, as shown in FIG. 50.

Next, the transducer shape forming members 3100 a and 3100 b are fixedwith a conductive adhesive integrally onto the acoustic matching layer200, followed by the adhering of the insulative member 3200 a to formthe radial type ultrasonic transducer 100 a, as shown in FIG. 51.

FIG. 52 is a diagram describing a comprisal of a convex type ultrasonictransducer using an insulative member made of a fiber-reinforcedthermosetting PPE, and FIG. 53 is a diagram showing a convex typeultrasonic transducer using an insulative member made of afiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE.

In order to form a convex type ultrasonic transducer 100 b, in the firststep are prepared the acoustic matching layer 200, transducer shapeforming members 3100 c and 3100 d, which are made of a hard material andformed into a semi-disc shape of a prescribed size, and an insulativemember 3200 b that is made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE andformed into a semi-disc shape of the same size as the transducer shapeforming members 3100 c and 3100 d, as shown in FIG. 52.

Next, the transducer shape forming members 3100 c and 3100 d are fixedwith a conductive adhesive integrally onto the acoustic matching layer200, followed by the adhering of the insulative member 3200 b to formthe convex type ultrasonic transducer 100 b, as shown in FIG. 53

Note that the present invention can be changed in various ways withinthe scope thereof in lieu of being limited to the embodiments describedabove. For example, the present embodiment is configured to place theboard 700 in parallel with the piezoelectric elements 500 and to connectboth of them together electrically by way of a conductive member;however, the present invention is not limited to the above and it ispossible to position a board at the inside of the backing member or onthe side surface thereof, or to integrate the frame and board, or toconnect the board to the piezoelectric element by way of a thin metallicwire, et cetera.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have so far beendescribed by referring to the accompanying drawings; the presentinvention, however, can be changed or modified for improvement invarious possible ways within the scope thereof, and is not limited tothe embodiments described above.

As described above, the present invention is capable of creating anenvironment related to all of the materials and intervals between theultrasonic transducer elements, thereby making it possible to obtain auniform image quality in all 360 degrees.

The present invention also differentiates the colors of division membersplaced adjacent to a predefined ultrasonic transducer from those of theother division members and therefore a predefined ultrasonic transducercan be easily identified by the differently colored division member.This contrivance enables the easy identification of a predefinedultrasonic transducer no matter what system of the ultrasonic transducerarray is being used.

The present invention also makes it possible to provide a highlyreliable ultrasonic transducer capable of obtaining a good ultrasonicwave image by arraying divided piezoelectric elements highly accurately;this reliability comes as a result of preventing occurrences of afailure due to a residual stress.

1. An electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer arraying, at evenintervals in a cylindrical shape, a plurality of ultrasonic transducerelements that transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave, and layering aplurality of acoustic matching layers, wherein a gap formed on the sideface of the ultrasonic transducer element is filled with the samematerial as that of the outermost layer of the acoustic matching layer.2. The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer according to claim1, wherein the gap is approximately the same interval as the one betweenthe ultrasonic transducer elements.
 3. The electronic radial typeultrasonic transducer according to claim 1, wherein a member constitutedby the same material as that of the outermost layer of the acousticmatching layer is installed in the gap.
 4. The electronic radial typeultrasonic transducer according to claim 3, wherein the gap is filledwith the member together with an adhesive constituted by the samematerial as that of the outermost layer of the acoustic matching layer.5. The electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer according to claim3, wherein the member is installed in a gap part sandwiched by a pair ofparts of the ultrasonic transducer elements that are not the onestransmitting and receiving the ultrasonic wave.
 6. An electronic radialtype ultrasonic transducer arraying, at even intervals in a cylindricalform, a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements that transmit andreceive an ultrasonic wave, and layering a plurality of acousticmatching layers, wherein a gap formed on the side face of the ultrasonictransducer element is approximately the same length as that of the spacebetween the ultrasonic transducer elements.
 7. A production process ofan electronic radial type ultrasonic transducer, comprising: a bodystructure production process for producing a body structure arraying aplurality of ultrasonic transducer elements, which transmit and receiveultrasonic waves, and layering a plurality of acoustic matching layers;a cylinder forming process for forming the body structure into acylindrical shape by causing first and second side faces of the bodystructure to be face to face with each other; a member insertion processfor inserting a member constituted by the same material as that of theoutermost layer of the acoustic matching layer into a gap between thefirst and second side faces of the cylindrically formed body structure;a circular member installation process for installing a circular memberon the inside of an opening part of the cylindrically shaped bodystructure; a cable harnessing process for leading a plurality of cablesthrough an insulative member that has a flange on one end of anapproximately cylindrical form and connecting one end of each of thecables respectively to a plurality of electrode pads that are equippedon the flange surface of the insulative member; an insulative memberinsertion process for inserting the insulative member into the bodystructure until the flange of the insulative member obtained by thecable harnessing process comes into contact with the circular member ofthe structure member obtained by the circular member installationprocess; and a connection process for connecting the electrode padequipped on the flange surface of the insulative member, which isinserted into by the insulative member insertion process, to theelectrodes of the ultrasonic transducer elements.
 8. An ultrasoundendoscope comprising an electronic radial type ultrasonic transduceraccording to any of claims 1 through
 6. 9. An ultrasonic transducerarray comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers structured byproviding a plurality of grooves in a plate-formed piezoelectricelement, wherein an ultrasonic wave is transmitted or received by anultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality of ultrasonictransducers, wherein the plurality of grooves are respectively equippedwith division members, and the color of a division member adjacent to apredetermined ultrasonic transducer, among the individual divisionmembers, is different from that of the other division members.
 10. Anultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of ultrasonictransducers structured by providing a plurality of grooves in aplate-formed piezoelectric element and a frame member in contact withall of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and retaining the formthereof, wherein an ultrasonic wave is transmitted or received by anultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality of ultrasonictransducers, wherein the plurality of grooves are respectively equippedwith division members, the color of a division member adjacent to apredetermined ultrasonic transducer, among the individual divisionmembers, is different from that of the other division members, and theframe member close to the predefined ultrasonic transducer is marked toindicate the position thereof.
 11. The ultrasonic transducer arrayaccording to claim 9 or 10, wherein the color of a division memberadjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer, among the individualdivision members, is different from that of the other division membersas a result of the division member being mixed with a colorant andhardened after it is filled in the groove adjacent to the predefinedultrasonic transducer, or the division member, from which a colorant hasbeen removed, being hardened after it is filled in the groove adjacentto the predefined ultrasonic transducer.
 12. The ultrasonic transducerarray according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the color of a division memberadjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer, among the individualdivision members, is different from that of the other division membersas a result of a plate-formed division member having a different colorfrom that of the other division members being inserted into the grooveadjacent to the predefined ultrasonic transducer.
 13. The ultrasonictransducer array according to claim 9 or 10, wherein part of thedivision member is colored differently from other parts.
 14. Anultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of ultrasonictransducers structured by providing a plurality of grooves in aplate-formed piezoelectric element and a frame member in contact withall of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and retaining the formthereof, wherein ultrasonic waves are transmitted or received by anultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality of ultrasonictransducers, wherein the frame member close to the predefined ultrasonictransducer is marked to indicate the position thereof.
 15. Theultrasonic transducer array according to claim 9, 10 or 14, wherein thepredefined ultrasonic transducer is constituted by a plurality ofultrasonic transducers having the same characteristic or function. 16.An ultrasonic transducer array comprising a plurality of ultrasonictransducers structured by providing a plurality of grooves in aplate-formed piezoelectric element, wherein an ultrasonic wave istransmitted or received by an ultrasonic transducer selected from amongthe plurality of ultrasonic transducers, wherein the plurality ofultrasonic transducers is formed into a circular shape by two ultrasonictransducers at both ends from among the plurality of ultrasonictransducers being connected together via a connection member, the colorof the two ultrasonic transducers being different from that of divisionmembers respectively installed in the plurality of grooves.
 17. Anultrasound endoscope apparatus equipped with an ultrasonic transducerarray comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers structured byproviding a plurality of grooves of a plate-formed piezoelectricelement, wherein an ultrasonic wave is transmitted or received by anultrasonic transducer selected from among the plurality of ultrasonictransducers, wherein the plurality of grooves are respectively equippedwith division members, and the color of a division member adjacent to apredetermined ultrasonic transducer, among the individual divisionmembers, is different from that of the other division members.
 18. Anultrasonic transducer, comprising: an acoustic matching layer includinga hard layer; a piezoelectric body that is shorter than the acousticmatching layer in length and that is placed fixedly at a predeterminedposition of the hard layer and is divided into a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with the piezoelectric bodybeing placed fixedly; and an transducer shape forming member made of afiber-reinforced thermoset polyphenyl ether (PPE) which is placedfixedly, with a surface of the divided piezoelectric element beingplaced on an internal circumference side, onto a surface of the acousticmatching layer projecting from the piezoelectric element, with thepiezoelectric body being placed on the surface, thereby arraying aplurality of piezoelectric elements in a predefined form.
 19. Anultrasonic transducer, comprising: an acoustic matching layer includinga hard layer; a piezoelectric body that is shorter than the acousticmatching layer in length, that is placed fixedly at a predeterminedposition in the hard layer, and that is divided into a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with the piezoelectric bodybeing placed fixedly; an transducer shape forming member of a hardmaterial that is placed fixedly, with a surface of the dividedpiezoelectric element being placed on an internal circumference side,onto a surface of the acoustic matching layer projecting from thepiezoelectric element, with the piezoelectric body being placed on thesurface, thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectric elements in apredefined form; and an insulative member that is placed on the outsideof the transducer shape forming member and is made of a fiber reinforcedthermoset polyphenylether (PPE) for electrically insulating a conductivemember from the outside.
 20. An ultrasonic transducer, comprising: anacoustic matching layer formed by layering at least a hard firstacoustic matching layer and a soft second acoustic matching layer; apiezoelectric body that is shorter than the acoustic matching layer inlength, that is placed fixedly at a predetermined position of the firstacoustic matching layer, and that is divided into a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with the piezoelectric bodybeing placed fixedly; and an transducer shape forming member made of afiber-reinforced thermoset polyphenylether (PPE) which is placedfixedly, with a surface of the divided piezoelectric element beingplaced on an internal circumference side, on a surface of the firstacoustic matching layer constituting the acoustic matching layerprojecting from the piezoelectric element, thereby arraying a pluralityof piezoelectric elements in a predefined arrangement.
 21. An ultrasonictransducer, comprising: an acoustic matching layer formed by layering atleast a hard first acoustic matching layer and a soft second acousticmatching layer; a piezoelectric body that is shorter than the acousticmatching layer in length, that is placed fixedly at a predeterminedposition in the first acoustic matching layer, and that is divided intoa plurality of piezoelectric elements by a cutting means, with thepiezoelectric body being placed fixedly; an transducer shape formingmember of a hard material which is placed fixedly, with a surface of thedivided piezoelectric element being placed on an internal circumferenceside, on a surface of the first acoustic matching layer constituting theacoustic matching layer projecting from the piezoelectric element,thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectric elements in a predefinedarrangement; and an insulative member which is placed on the outside ofthe transducer shape forming member and is made of a fiber-reinforcedthermoset polyphenylether (PPE) to electrically insulate a conductivemember from the outside.
 22. The ultrasonic transducer according toclaim 20 or 21, wherein the piezoelectric elements are formed byproviding division grooves at predefined intervals and, starting from asurface of a piezoelectric body placed fixedly on the first acousticmatching layer, pass the layer to reach the second acoustic matchinglayer by the cutting means.
 23. The ultrasonic transducer according toany one of claims 18 through 21, wherein the transducer shape formingmember is circular.
 24. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 19or 21, wherein the insulative member is circular.
 25. The ultrasonictransducer according to any one of claims 18 through 21, wherein thetransducer shape forming member is roughly partially cylindrical. 26.The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 19 or 21, wherein theinsulative member is roughly partially cylindrical.
 27. An ultrasonictransducer, comprising: an acoustic matching layer including a hardlayer; a piezoelectric body which is placed fixedly in a positionalrelationship that a part of the acoustic matching layer projects in apredetermined position of a hard layer constituting the acousticmatching layer, and which is provided with a one-face-side electrode andan other-face-side electrode respectively on both of the flat partsdivided into a plurality of piezoelectric elements by a cutting meanswith the piezoelectric body being placed fixedly; and an transducershape forming member made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetpolyphenylether (PPE) which is placed fixedly, with a surface of thepiezoelectric element, which is divisionally formed, being placed on aninternal circumference side, on a surface of the first acoustic matchinglayer constituting the acoustic matching layer projecting from thepiezoelectric element, thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectricelements in a predefined form, wherein a band-shaped conductive materialof a predetermined width is equipped at a predetermined position on anend side of the acoustic matching layer, in parallel with thepiezoelectric body and facing an electrode provided on a flat part ofthe piezoelectric body, while the transducer shape forming member isequipped with a conductive part placed facing a conductive material thatextends from the piezoelectric body.
 28. An ultrasonic transducer,comprising: an acoustic matching layer including a hard layer; apiezoelectric body which is placed fixedly in a positional relationshipthat a part of the acoustic matching layer projecting in a predeterminedposition of a hard layer constituting the acoustic matching layer, andwhich is provided with a one-face-side electrodes and an other-face-sideelectrode respectively on both of the flat parts divided into aplurality of piezoelectric elements by a cutting means with thepiezoelectric body being placed fixedly; an transducer shape formingmember of a hard material which is placed fixedly, with a surface of thepiezoelectric element, which is divisionally formed, being placed on aninternal circumference side, onto a surface on which the piezoelectricelement of the acoustic matching layer projects from the piezoelectricelement, thereby arraying a plurality of piezoelectric elements in apredefined form; and an insulative member which is placed on the outsideof the transducer shape forming member and is made of a fiber-reinforcedthermoset polyphenylether (PPE) to electrically insulate a conductivemember from the outside, wherein a band-shaped conductive material of apredetermined width is equipped at a predetermined position on an endside of the acoustic matching layer, in parallel with the piezoelectricbody and facing an electrode provided on a flat part of thepiezoelectric body, while the transducer shape forming member isequipped with a conductive part placed facing a conductive material thatextends from the piezoelectric body.
 29. The ultrasonic transduceraccording to claim 27 or 28, wherein electrical conduction of at leastone of the following two places is carried out by bringing into contact,for example, an electrode equipped on a flat part of the piezoelectricbody and a band-shaped conductive material equipped on the acousticmatching layer, or, as another example, by bringing into contact theconductive material and a conductive part of the transducer shapeforming member.
 30. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 27 or28, wherein electrical conduction of at least one of the following twoplaces is carried out by way of a conductive member, i.e., an electrodeequipped on a flat part of the piezoelectric body connected via theconductive member to a band-shaped conductive material equipped on theacoustic matching layer, or the conductive material connected via theconductive member to a conductive part of the transducer shape formingmember.
 31. The ultrasonic transducer according to claim 30, wherein theconductive member is either a metallic grazing member, conductiveadhesive, conductive painting or conductive film.